One of the things that got me to wondering about whether my childhood SA might be rearing up again is that I have been in discussions with my wife and with my therapist about my seemingly regular need to change jobs. Fortunately, I am always changing to jobs that are higher in status and/or salary, so it's not that I'm not employable....Nor does it mean that I can't hold a job. I can generally stay in one place for 3-5 years before getting itchy feet.

In a meeting with my therapist this summer she asked me, "What would it feel like to you to actually stay in one place and make the situation work for you?" I didn't have a ready answer for this question, as it's been my pattern to either get things worked around to the way I want/like them...and then I resign and go on to other (I won't even say "greener" pastures).

My question is, does anyone else have this need to keep moving along? Am I unusual? Any insights are appreciated.

I like things just the way that I know them (for better or worse). My work history (as limited as it is, since I'm only 27) has been to stay for around 3 years, but then other circumstances force me to move on (like graduation from college). My present employer is the first "real" employer I found after graduating college (Blockbuster Video doesn't count).

It is a matter of sheer tenacity that got me through the very rough 3 1/2 years of working with emotionally disturbed teenagers. Everyone that cared about me told me to find a new job, but I stuck with it. Then I got transferred within the company to work with little kids, and the world just opened up.

I also have learned the direction that I really want my career to go: social work. So I'll be going back to school to earn my degree, and then I'll probably move out of my present duties in a couple years (though I'll likely stay with the company).

The more I write, I see that perhaps I'm fitting into your pattern after all, Don. However, the changes have felt a bit more... natural (for want of a better word), rather than "This isn't working out for me." I had to leave my campus food service job (of 2 1/2 years), cuz I had graduated. I transfered from teenagers to little kids, because I finally had some opportunities to help out there, and saw that I "clicked" with that age group better than with the teens.

I've almost been with the little ones for a year. I'm now thinking in terms of my long term goals for working with kids, and the financial goals of an adult life. A "Child Care Worker" salary just won't cut it, for the long haul.

I don't like change. So it usually takes some doing for me to recognize the need, then a bit longer to actually enact the change.

Dunno if I agreed, disagreed, or what with you Don. That's my life experience, tho.

i dont know how close this is but, i have held to many jobs for a long time, its not just an up or down the latter thing, i never asked how much they pay, come to think of it the longest job was 10ys, oilfield, the booze and drugs were great and plentifull, it was rig to rig so i can say that things were not the same job there, i did find that i will not trust another person,people are contemptable, if they get to close i leave, cant stand that shit, i also dispize touch, its an act of war with me or sex if female, i find myself working perty much alone, i prefer it that way, just the site of people brings back the abuse, now that i stopped the substance abuse i cant help but climb back into my black box and isolate,,, i wise i could do it forever.sounds like you get an ego boost from yoursi used any mind altering thing i could get my hands on, sex was the most shamefull.....

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